Suhakam 2020 report to highlight rights concerns during Covid-19

 

The Suhakam 2020 annual report scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on June 6 - the first day this current sitting resumes after a one-week break - will shed light on pressing human rights concerns in Malaysia, in particular those which occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Suhakam chairperson Prof Rahmat Mohamad said the report highlights the promotion and awareness-raising of human rights activities which include the development of human rights modules for the police and the Institute of Teacher Education.

"The report also addresses thematic areas namely indigenous people; human trafficking, refugees and asylum seekers; business and human rights; Islam and human rights; racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia; as well as other human rights issues," Rahmat said in a statement today.

A copy of the report was made available to all MPs today.

Overall, Rahmat (above) said a total of 756 complaints were received during the movement control order (MCO) and conditional movement control order (CMCO) period - enforced in various phases from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 until 2021 when Malaysia rolled out the first national vaccination plan.

"Suhakam appreciates Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's unwavering support for human rights and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said for her unstinting and consistent emphasis on the importance of tabling and debating the annual report in Parliament.

"We earnestly hope that the MPs will take this opportunity to debate and deliberate critical issues on human rights," he said.

Takiyuddin Hassan

Earlier today, Perikatan Nasional chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan questioned why the government had "nothing else" lined up when the current Dewan Rakyat meeting still had seven more days to go.

As part of the Dewan Rakyat procedure, the government may add or remove any bills or motions to the order paper - with notice - at a whim, meaning that the government can add more bills down the line.

The Dewan Rakyat had last tabled and debated Suhakam's 2019 annual report in December 2019.

Azalina in a written response on Monday said the 2020 annual report will be tabled in the ongoing parliamentary sitting, while the 2021 report will be tabled in the third sitting, which is expected to begin in November.

As for Suhakam’s 2022 annual report, Azalina said it would be presented to the cabinet once the report is finalised. - Mkini